Zenger, a 1988 graduate of Kansas State, has been at Illinois State since 2005.

David Sayler is serving as Rice’s interim athletic director and is also a candidate for the position, which Rice officials hope to have filled by late March.

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The same persons with knowledge of the situationalso said other candidates include UCLA senior associate athletic director for external relations Ross Bjork, who was a finalist for the recent AD opening at UNLV; Buffalo athletic director Warde Manuel; Saint Louis athletic director Chris May, who would be an interesting choice since the Billikens do not play football; and Bowling Green athletic director Greg Christopher.

Efforts to reach Bjork, Manuel and May for confirmation were unsuccessful. Christopher replied via e-mail Sunday night that he was not interviewing for the position.

KRIV reported on its Web site that Florida Atlantic athletic director Craig Angelos and Sam Houston State athletic director Bobby Williams Jr. also are candidates. Williams played football at Rice, and his father was a member of the Owls’ 1958 Cotton Bowl team.